Cantata BWV 4, entitled Christ lag in Todes Banden ("Christ lay in the bonds of death"), is an early choral cantata (Choralkantate) and one of Bach's oldest surviving sacred vocal works. It is a "per omnes versus" cantata, in which each verse of the hymn is set to music in a different way, without new poetic text, recitatives, or operatic arias typical of his later cantatas.
It was probably composed in 1707 (or around 1707-1708), during his time in Mühlhausen, where Bach was organist at St. Blasius Church at the age of 22. There is documentary evidence to suggest that it was premiered on April 24, 1707, possibly as part of his audition for the position of organist in Mühlhausen, although the exact date of the initial premiere is not entirely certain. Bach revised and restaged it in Leipzig in 1724 and 1725 (at Easter, adding cornetto and trombones in some movements for the Leipzig version). It was composed for the first day of Easter (Easter Sunday). It is Bach's only original cantata specifically preserved for the first day of Easter.
The work is based entirely on Martin Luther's Easter hymn Christ lag in Todes Banden, published in 1524 in the Erfurt Enchiridion and in Johann Walter's songbook. The text is a paraphrase of the medieval sequence Victimae paschali laudes and consists of seven stanzas. Bach uses the complete and literal text of the seven stanzas of the hymn (without paraphrasing or adding new poetry), with the chorale melody as the basis for each movement (often as cantus firmus).
The cantata consists of eight movements (including an initial symphony):
- Sinfonia (instrumental, based on motifs from the chorale).
- Chorus – Christ lag in Todes Banden (stanza 1, polyphonic choral fantasia with cantus firmus in soprano).
- Duet (soprano and alto) – Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt (stanza 2).
- Aria (tenor) – Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn (stanza 3).
- Chorus – Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg (stanza 4).
- Aria (bass) – Hier ist das rechte Osterlamm (verse 5).
- Duet (soprano and tenor) – So feiern wir das hohe Fest (stanza 6).
- Chorale – Wir essen und leben wohl (stanza 7, four-part harmony).
Each movement is a variation on the corresponding verse, with the melody of the chorale present in various forms (cantus firmus, imitations, etc.). The form is archaic for the mature Bach period, reminiscent of 17th-century styles.
Instrumentation
- Original version (Mühlhausen ca. 1707): 2 violins, 2 violas, basso continuo (probably organ and cello/viola da gamba).
- Revised version (Leipzig 1724-1725): Adds cornetto and 3 trombones (which double the choir voices in several movements, especially in choruses 1, 4, and 8, for a more solemn and ancient effect).
- Four-part choir (SATB).
- Soloists: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass.
The instrumentation reinforces the festive Easter character but also the serious tone of death and victory over it.